How many days · Hoi An · Vietnam
How many days do you need in Hoi An?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Hoi An, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the Ancient Town, a lantern evening and a bicycle ride to the beach. Four days lets you add My Son, a cooking class, a tailoring fitting or two, and a lazy day at An Bang; a week adds the Cham Islands, Da Nang and Hue.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 11.2 h (Dec) to 13.1 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), Ancient Town streets and lanterns, Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon and Tan Ky Old House |
| 2 days | Good | Tan Ky Old House, Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến) and Quan Cong Temple |
| 3 days | Good | Phung Hung Old House, Museum of Trade Ceramics and Hoi An Central Market |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to My Son Sanctuary |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as My Son Sanctuary and Cham Islands |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Hoi An add up to roughly 13–15 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Ancient Town streets and lanterns (Half a day), An Bang Beach (Half a day) and Lantern-making workshop (1.5–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) | 20 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Ancient Town streets and lanterns | Half a day | Ancient Town |
| Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon | 20 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Tan Ky Old House | 30 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến) | 30 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Quan Cong Temple | 20–30 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Phung Hung Old House | 30 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Museum of Trade Ceramics | 30 minutes | Ancient Town |
| Hoi An Central Market | 1 hour | Ancient Town |
| Hoi An Night Market | 1 hour | An Hoi islet |
| Lantern-making workshop | 1.5–2 hours | Ancient Town |
| An Bang Beach | Half a day | An Bang Beach |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) and Ancient Town streets and lanterns |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add My Son Sanctuary and Cham Islands |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 11.2 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.1 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Hoi An with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Da Nang | About 24 km | 4 days |
| Siem Reap | About 557 km | 3 days |
| Ho Chi Minh City | About 594 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Hoi An?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the Ancient Town, a lantern evening and a bicycle ride to the beach. Four days lets you add My Son, a cooking class, a tailoring fitting or two, and a lazy day at An Bang; a week adds the Cham Islands, Da Nang and Hue.
+Is a week too long in Hoi An?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as My Son Sanctuary and Cham Islands.